Financial Assistance Provided to Recently Released Former Bhutanese Political Prisoners
Beldangi, Jhapa: Financial assistance has been provided to recently released former Bhutanese political prisoners Chaturman Tamang and Hasta Bahadur Rai.
The financial support was distributed during a special ceremony held at the Beldangi Refugee Camp in Jhapa. The assistance was made possible through a fundraising campaign organized by the Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB).
The fundraising campaign, conducted in July 2026, received contributions from 33 donors, raising a total of 1,492 euros, equivalent to more than NPR 263,000. After deducting transaction and administrative charges, 1,420.20 euros (NPR 243,809.57) remained and was divided equally between the two former prisoners.
Tamang was arrested in Bhutan on February 17, 2008, while Rai was arrested a day later, on February 18, 2008. Both men spent more than 18 years in prison and remained incarcerated at Chamgang Central Prison until their release on June 1, 2026.
Following their release, Tamang and Rai returned to the Beldangi Refugee Camp with extremely limited resources. They now face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives after nearly two decades behind bars. Organizers believe that the financial assistance will help them meet their immediate needs and support their reintegration into the community.
The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) was established in 2019 to advocate for the release of political prisoners in Bhutan. The organization continues to campaign for the safe and timely release of those who remain behind bars.
According to the campaign, 28 political prisoners are still being held in various prisons across Bhutan, highlighting the continuing need for international attention and advocacy.
Beldangi Online Khabar